Words Of Encouragement For Your Day (Thursday 12/15/2011)

Are You A Professional or Amateur?

2 Timothy 2:20-26 Amplified Bible (AMP)

²⁰But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also [utensils] of wood and earthenware, and some for honorable and noble [use] and some for menial and ignoble [use]. ²¹So whoever cleanses himself [from what is ignoble and unclean, who separates himself from contact with contaminating and corrupting influences] will [then himself] be a vessel set apart and useful for honorable and noble purposes, consecrated and profitable to the Master, fit and ready for any good work. ²²Shun youthful lusts and flee from them, and aim at and pursue righteousness (all that is virtuous and good, right living, conformity to the will of God in thought, word, and deed); [and aim at and pursue] faith, love, [and] peace (harmony and concord with others) in fellowship with all [Christians], who call upon the Lord out of a pure heart. ²³But refuse (shut your mind against, have nothing to do with) trifling (ill-informed, unedifying, stupid) controversies over ignorant questionings, for you know that they foster strife and breed quarrels. ²⁴And the servant of the Lord must not be quarrelsome (fighting and contending). Instead, he must be kindly to everyone and mild-tempered [preserving the bond of peace]; he must be a skilled and suitable teacher, patient and forbearing and willing to suffer wrong. ²⁵He must correct his opponents with courtesy and gentleness, in the hope that God may grant that they will repent and come to know the Truth [that they will perceive and recognize and become accurately acquainted with and acknowledge it], ²⁶And that they may come to their senses [and] escape out of the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him, [henceforth] to do His [God's] will.

            A few years ago our Bishop preached on being a professional.  Through this message I came to understanding that being a professional means that we place Christ out in front and that we represent Him, we are a professional at humility before Him and in our worship of Him and that we seek Him first above all; that we are the living testimony.  We should not just claim Christ but we should be living being a disciple of Christ.  A few years ago while working in a financial institution a member of the church I attend came in, she, she was not just a member she worked in ministry; she was rude and unkind to the person who serviced her.  I thought at the time wow, she didn’t recognize me, but I recognized her and she was a bad representation of the church we attended.  This morning a person from the utility company came to my parents’ house, again this person did not recognize me, but I recognized them, because they too were not just a member but served in ministry at church.  This individual’s attitude was horrible, and again I thought to myself, wow that is poor reflection on where we worship.  But then in my spirit I could hear it is a worse reflection upon me and the kingdom that they are supposed to represent.  My heart sunk.

 I understand that we all have bad days and things go wrong, in our personal lives, but the question I must ask is, even in those moments do we not realize we are being watched, and measured.  We are the representation of God all the time, not just sometimes. What if in these two scenarios that I had been a person that was not a Christian and I had visited the church they attended saw them operating in the church and then saw their behavior outside of church, that would have driven me away from church and God not to Him.  My heart is sadden every time I hear a person profess Christ with one mouth and with that same mouth when something goes wrong or they don’t like their circumstance they are cussing, fussing and acting worse than those who never utter the name of Jesus.  Professionalism, does not just pertain to our work situation it also pertains to how we live our lives, through Christ.  Are we getting the word in us, and spending enough time in the presence of God that He is the one that comes through when we encounter people or are we still shining through, our bad attitude our corrupt communication or cutting and offensive words?  When we can teeter back and forth quickly between the things of God and the flesh, that means that our flesh is getting fed a little bit more than our spirit and it still has a strong hold and position.  But if the Holy Spirit quickly reminds us of who we are and who we represent than the God in us is being nourished and the skills of being a professional representation of Christ are being cultivated and reinforced.

Does our behavior, attitude, interactions and responses to individual show our lack of professionalism, or that we are a consummate professional that represents our Father God well?  Do people encounter us at work, in social setings and at church and see the same individual or do we have a church face and a face that we live by?  Are we submitted to God in a way that He is what people see and hear or is the truth of who is in control of our lives coming out?  Have we become comfortable in our amateur status as we go about our daily lives and just play at being a professional on Sunday morning? Become to pro not just one day a week, but every day, as it says in a Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your moral excellence and your praiseworthy, noble, and good deeds and recognize and honor and praise and glorify your Father Who is in heaven.”

Words Of Encouragement For Your Day (Wednesday 12/14/2011)

The Truth Will Always Come Out!

Revelation 19:10 Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁰Then I fell prostrate at his feet to worship (to pay divine honors) to him, but he [restrained me] and said, Refrain! [You must not do that!] I am [only] another servant with you and your brethren who have [accepted and hold] the testimony borne by Jesus. Worship God! For the substance (essence) of the truth revealed by Jesus is the spirit of all prophecy [the vital breath, the inspiration of all inspired preaching and interpretation of the divine will and purpose, including both mine and yours].

            My mother used to say to us, be careful what you wish or pray for you just might get it.  I have learned this throughout my life.  That we can pray for something and it not be in God’s will and we bug him like a child bugs a parent and we get it and we finally see what God was trying to keep us from.  The other thing is I have had to learn when I pray, for God to reveal things to me, especially truths concerning myself and others that I am ready for the truth that will follow. Most of us, will pray for God to really show us, but we have not gotten real with ourselves about who we are, what we can handle or what may be the truth of who people are and what they really feel about us.

            Recently, I started to pray and ask God to show me, not just the truth of what was in me, but to remove things from my life that were not in His will or sent to sabotage or harm me.  I also asked Him to show me what really was in people’s heart towards me, so that I could pray on how to proceed in these relationships or if these relationships were even meant to be.  As I stated you have to be ready for what God will reveal and what will come out as a result of these types of prayers.  But I am in a place in my life where I realize how much I need God and I need for Him to be in full control, even in those times where He shows me, myself and it is not all that pretty or when He lets me see the truth of a situation, a person’s heart or intent towards me.  Well as Sure as I asked, certain individuals in my life, began to say things that revealed the truth of their thoughts towards me and their actions began to display the truth of who I am to them.  The one thing I have learned is the truth will eventually come out no matter what, but as you draw close to God, you desire for truth, becomes stronger and you want to get rid of anything that is not conducive to your growth and progression in Christ.  The truth sometimes is staring us right in the face, but we are in denial about facing what people are saying to us through their actions towards us.  But just as the truth of what others think about us will surface, and what is really in us will reveal itself, so what our heart is towards God will be revealed and what our real relationship with God is about.   We can lip service people about where we stand with God, but it when things are lean, or tough, or not working out the way we want; when people betray us, or turn on us, when God doesn’t answer or respond in the manner we want, how we react, or respond tell of the truth on us.  It lets God know whether we love Him, for being God or whether we love Him, because we know that He is able to rescue us from a fix, or provide for us.

            My philosophy is always no matter what we say there is our brand or version of truth, other people’s version of truth about us and the situation they may be involved in with us, but there is “The Truth,” which is what God sees and knows to be truth.  Ultimately that is the truth that matters. That is the truth that will affect our living and our ability to progress and move forward.  We have to be prepared to face, “The Truth,” or we will find ourselves in denial, in a place where we are blaming everyone else never accepting responsibility for our actions or always finding ourselves getting blind-sided by people’s reactions and behaviors because we have been in refusal to see what is really present in their hearts about us.  Don’t let the Lord of truth give you truth that you can’t handle or your refuse to accept. Stay connected to Him; seek after Him in such a way that, you are acceptance with Joy and baring the cost of following Him and facing the truth of what that journey is all about!

Words Of Encouragement For Your Day ( Monday 12/12/2011)

I Believe In You, Because You’ve Had Me

Deuteronomy 32:4 Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁴He is the Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are law and justice. A God of faithfulness without breach or deviation, just and right is He.

            Have you ever been in a place where you felt as if everything in your life was a fight? Have you seen people who were mean and wicked around you, that gave the appearance that they were able to obtain all that they want and need, and to get away with treating people unfairly and even cruel?  Have you been so tired of the struggles you have been in that you felt like saying if one more thing comes my way I think I will just scream?  Most of us at one time or another has felt that way.  Some of us have been feeling this way for years and wondering what in the world is going on, whether it is health issues, financial issues, relationships issues, job situations, family dynamics, we have all been in a place of frustration and feeling like fighting is all that we do.  We pray and ask God what is going on up there seems like the enemy is winning and God’s people are taking somewhat of a beating, and we find ourselves asking what is really good?

            As I sat praying over a situation the other day, this is how I felt.  Many have been my trials, stresses and challenges, but the one thing I had to admit in the midst of my prayer is that God has been faithful, and He has delivered me out of them all, in one way of another.  No matter what I have endured, if I just stayed in the press even when I was tired, God was there and able to see me through, you see in my life He has a proven track record.  In De La Soul’s song “say I Gotta Believe,” the bridge says, “Double You, and me…Can walk, together…Until, the road Forever…And so, I touch The treasures of life Everyday…Love, and hate… A face, to face it through… In fact, I got…Your back every day.”  Having a point of reference for God’s abilities in our lives will keep us from giving up and giving in no matter how tired and frustrated we may be.  When we can look back over our lives and recall and remember what God has brought us through it helps us to remain and to know what He has done before He is more than able of doing again.  We have a choice to believe, but as I said the other day is that my choice is that I do not have a choice but to believe.  Why, because God for me is all I have. I am not negating that I have a beautiful husband, children and that I have family, and friends but many of the things that we face and go through they cannot help us with or save us from.  We must rely on God trusting that Jesus is there making intercession for us as the Holy Spirit works here in the earth on our behalf.  We have to begin to understand that the journey that we are on is not just about what goes on here nor is it about just us.  Many times things happen as a means to try to distract us or get us off course, because someone is waiting for us, waiting for us to bless them, with our testimony or the blessings that we have obtained from believing God and being able to come out of the test we are within.  The other side of it is our responses, and the things we are able to be obedient in here have eternal consequences, and there is the place no one can affect the benefits towards us.

            I am far from saying this life is easy, or that we should get to a point where everything is smooth all the time, but trusting and believing God understanding that He before is greater than anything we face, He possess all that we need and more and He is able far above any set of power individuals here in the earth.  We have a team of specialist that have a proven track record of victories and wins, and if we are willing to look at that and remember what has already been done, we can see what can be done and what God is able to accomplish, no matter what it may look like on this side, or no matter how tired we may be from the battles we have had to take part in.  God is our strength and if in the midst of all that we see and feel, in the midst of all that we are enduring that God with the example and intercession of Jesus and the working of the Holy Spirit we will win the war. Our enemies will either be subdued or rise up to bless us and all that we have need of will be met according to God’s supply which is endless! Understand when God through the vehicle of the Holy Spirit walks with you, you can handle it and He has your BACK!

Words Of Encouragement For Your Day (Thursday 12/08/2011)

Is He More Than

2 Corinthians 9:8 Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁸And God is able to make all grace (every favor and earthly blessing) come to you in abundance, so that you may always and under all circumstances and whatever the need be self-sufficient [possessing enough to require no aid or support and furnished in abundance for every good work and charitable donation].

                       

            The economy has many of us in a place where ends don’t meet and things are tight.  We are looking around trying to find the resources to not just pay bills, buy food and do the things we normally do, but for those of us who believe the Word of God, we believe that there is no way that we can afford to stop tithing and giving because our obedience and God’s ability to be blessed and just our survival hinges on us staying faithful in those area.  God knows that I have heard many people struggling to stay focused, in their giving and financially.  I have even heard some people say why would a God that loves us and has all things require us to give what we really don’t have and have our needs or bills go unmet and unattended to.

This made me think of the woman that had a son that was ready to make a cake for her and her son and die, because all she had was a handful of meal and a little bit of oil.  But Elijah, asked her to make a cake for him first and then for her and her son.  It was only after she made the cake for the prophet of God who represents the voice of God and was obedient to the voice of God that required for her to give out of her need that not just her needs were met but God supplied the need and gave her the ability to be sustained (I Kings 17).   We will say God is more than enough, but when we are faced with the dilemma of tithes or doing anything else with our money we struggle.  We will and quote “My God shall supply all of my needs according to His richest by Christ Jesus,” (Philippians 4:19), but we don’t believe it we speak it out of fear, but not in faith.  God really is more than enough. I have watched Him carry us when people that were supposed to pay me didn’t, when I was sick, when deals fell through and when it seemed as if my family’s back was against the wall; even in times when the month was long and the resources were short, I have seen God, do some stuff that most would not believe if I said.  Remember this is the same God that when the Children of Israel had not food to eat He provided manna, this is the same God that fed Elijah by the brook by the mouth of the raven, this is the same God that allowed Joseph to suffer at the hands of his brothers to get him in position to take care of his father Israel, this is the same God that allowed a little Hebrew girl name Hadassah, rise to be queen to save a nation, this is the same God that when Adam sinned in the garden of Eden, planned for His son to come and die on Calvary’s cross to redeem us back to Him so that we may regain the privilege of eternal life.

God is more than any need we have, He is more than any adverse scenario we face, but we cannot just say it; it takes faith to believe it and to live it.  It takes faith to be obedient to His word and do what it is asking of us even when it does not make sense.  God’s Word says that He wishes that we prosper and be in health just as our soul prospers (III John 1:2).  God’s thoughts and plans for us are good, and they are to bless us and prosper us to give us a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).  But this all is up to our willingness to have faith enough to know and believe who God says that He is for us, and that where we understand, know that He is more than what our minds and hearts can comprehend.  If more is what you need and God is who you have then you do already heave more than enough.  Mix your faith with what you know what you understand and what you don’t understand so that you will be able to see how much more God is for you!